Carrie Coon Reveals Cut ‘White Lotus’ Scene About Laurie’s Nonbinary Child Amid Trump’s Re-election Shift

HBO star Carrie Coon says a pivotal scene about gender identity in The White Lotus Season 3 was scrapped after Trump’s win—highlighting how politics continues to shape TV narratives.

Los Angeles, March 31: Emmy-nominated actress Carrie Coon, who stars as Laurie in HBO’s The White Lotus Season 3, has revealed that a significant scene featuring her character’s nonbinary or trans child was cut from the series in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s re-election.

Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar, Coon opened up about Laurie’s arc—one-third of the infamous “Blonde Blob” trio—and explained how the omitted storyline would have added deeper context to her character’s personal struggles, including a looming divorce, a rocky relationship with her daughter, and political tensions among friends.

“There was a bit more context to her home life,” Coon said. “You originally found out that her daughter was actually nonbinary, maybe trans and going by they/them. Laurie is shown struggling with the pronouns, with the language, trying to explain it to her friends.”

The scene would’ve been a key moment in Episode 3, particularly as Laurie confronts Kate about possibly voting for Donald Trump.
“It made the question of whether Kate voted for Trump so much more provocative and personally offensive to Laurie,” Coon noted. “Because it wasn’t just political—it was personal, considering who her child is in the world.”

However, the season was written prior to the 2024 U.S. election. After Trump’s re-election, creator Mike White decided the moment needed to be cut—not because it lacked relevance, but because it required a broader platform for such a significant topic.

“When the time came to cut the episode down, Mike felt that the scene was so small and the topic so big that it wasn’t the right way to engage in that conversation,” said Coon.

The decision reflects ongoing concerns over the Trump administration’s continued attacks on the LGBTQ community, particularly transgender and nonbinary individuals. Examples include the removal of inclusive language from federal websites and initiatives aimed at reinforcing binary gender roles.

This cultural backdrop, Coon implied, added weight to the scene—perhaps too much weight for a single moment in an already-packed narrative.

While fans never saw that side of Laurie on screen, Coon’s revelation offers a glimpse into how The White Lotus continues to explore identity, privilege, and uncomfortable social dynamics—with or without the cameras rolling.